NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Chapter 7
After the First Division mobilized its forces, the emergency rescue team was swiftly assembled.
The team consisted of five members: Rose Ōtoribashi, Hirako Shinji, Aikawa Love, Yadomaru Lisa, and the Deputy Chief of the Kido Corps, Hachigen Ushōda .
Standing at the entrance of the First Division, Uehara Shiroha watched as the five figures hurried away, his thoughts swirling.
"So, it's unfolding exactly as I remember."
Three captains, one vice-captain, and a deputy chief from the Kido Corps—each incredibly skilled and formidable. A lineup like this would normally be more than enough to handle an expedition to Hueco Mundo.
"But unfortunately, you've all run into Aizen, the master of deception and hairspray."
Still, Uehara Shiroha wasn't too concerned about the outcome. After all, in the original timeline, none of them had died. They were merely forced to undergo Hollowfication and later became members of the Visored.
A hundred years of exile in the human world? For a Shinigami, that was hardly different from a decade for ordinary humans. It was more of an extended vacation than a true punishment.
Just as Uehara was lost in thought, Kyoraku Shunsui emerged, his usual carefree expression replaced by a rare look of solemnity.
"Brother Shunsui, what's wrong? This isn't like you at all," Uehara Shiroha's shadow clone asked, feigning ignorance.
The thought of being seen through never even crossed his mind. The Shadow Clone Technique, originally developed by the Second Hokage, might have only been classified as a B-rank technique in the Naruto world, but it was undeniably overpowered.
Kyoraku Shunsui's gaze lingered on Uehara Shiroha before he finally voiced the doubt that had been gnawing at him for a while.
"What do you think of Aizen?"
The question slipped out before he could stop himself. Realizing his mistake, he shook his head.
"Forget it… Maybe I'm just overthinking things."
Shinji had once expressed suspicions about Aizen. Not long after, a horrific incident occurred in Rukongai.
Kyoraku Shunsui couldn't help but connect the dots.
"Could Vice-Captain Aizen really be involved in something? Impossible… How could someone so perfect have any issues?"
Uehara Shiroha's shadow clone scratched his head with a puzzled expression. "Is something wrong with Vice-Captain Aizen? That doesn't seem likely."
His words only made Kyoraku Shunsui think even harder. After a brief silence, he suddenly spoke.
"Follow me."
With that, he disappeared in a Shunpo, leaving the shadow clone to follow closely behind.
A short while later, the two arrived at the Fifth Division Barracks.
Right on cue, "Aizen" just so happened to be passing by.
Wearing rimless glasses and sporting an unassuming hairstyle, the ever-polite vice-captain stopped to salute Kyoraku Shunsui.
To Kyoraku Shunsui, the Aizen before him was flawless—appearance, voice, height, Zanpakutō, even his spiritual pressure. Everything checked out.
But to Uehara Shiroha's shadow clone, this "Aizen" was nothing more than a convincing imitation.
This was Kyoka Suigetsu's absolute dominance over the five senses, affecting even spiritual perception itself.
At every Shinō Academy opening and graduation ceremony, Aizen would activate his Shikai in front of everyone, claiming that Kyoka Suigetsu was just a simple water-type Zanpakutō.
Of course, Uehara Shiroha, who knew the truth of the story, had never fallen for that lie.
Instead, he had always used shadow clones for classes and ceremonies, ensuring that he himself never directly witnessed Kyoka Suigetsu's release.
Now, he played along, smiling and greeting the counterfeit Aizen with casual respect.
"Vice-Captain Aizen, still working this late? You really are a model of diligence."
It was all about the details. The more natural his reactions, the less suspicion he would arouse.
After a brief exchange, Kyoraku Shunsui and Uehara Shiroha left the barracks.
Kyoraku let out a breath, his expression softening. "Looks like Aizen's fine. I was just overthinking it."
"Anyone would be suspicious after everything that's happened," Uehara Shiroha replied.
Deep down, though, he found it baffling how no one else was seeing through Aizen's schemes. These captains had lived for centuries, even millennia, and yet Aizen was manipulating them right under their noses.
Were they simply too complacent after so many years of peace? Or was Aizen just that damn good?
Meanwhile, in the Technical Development Bureau, Urahara Kisuke put on his latest invention—an "invisibility cloak"—and vanished into the night, heading toward the scene of the incident.
West Rukongai, District 57.
Hiyori Sarugaki was already engaged in a fierce battle.
Her childlike frame was riddled with cuts and bruises, and her blonde pigtails—usually bouncing with energy—now drooped from exhaustion.
Still, the badge on her left shoulder, the insignia of the 12th Division's Vice-Captain, gleamed under the moonlight. Gritting her teeth, she refused to back down.
A massive black shadow loomed over her, emanating a terrifying presence.
A suffocating Reiatsu surged outward like a violent storm, filling the air with the stench of blood and carnage.
Hiyori's pupils shrank. She knew this Reiatsu.
It was the ominous, violent presence of a Hollow.
But what truly unsettled her was how eerily familiar this humanoid Hollow seemed.
No time to think. Her instincts took over.
"Bakudō #37: Tsuriboshi!"
A light blue net of Kido materialized, expanding outward to trap the Hollow.
But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the Hollow effortlessly ripped through the barrier with a single swipe of its claw.
With immense speed, it leaped high into the air, its bone-armored fists plummeting toward her with terrifying force.
The gust from its descent blasted against her face, while its sheer size blotted out the moonlight, making her small figure look even more fragile in comparison.
The weight of its oppressive spiritual pressure locked her in place, leaving no room for escape.
For the first time in a long while, Hiyori felt completely trapped.
Just as she braced for impact—
A calm, lazy voice rang out.
"You're only using Bakudō? Hiyori, when did you get so soft?"
In a flash, a blade intercepted the Hollow's attack, stopping it mid-air.
A single strike, and the monstrous force of the Hollow was pushed back.
The captain-level Reiatsu of Shinji erupted, forcing the Hollow to retreat.
Hot on his heels, Aikawa Love, Rose Ōtoribashi, and Yadomaru Lisa arrived as well.
Trailing behind them, Hachigen Ushōda —not as adept in Shunpo—was still catching up.
Not far away, Uehara Shiroha watched from the shadows, his gaze locked onto the scene.
"Finally, the show begins."
He had actually arrived much earlier, long before Shinji and the others.
With time to spare, he had even styled his hair Gao Qiqiang-style, leading the fashion trend of the era.
Now, he simply wondered—what kind of reward would he get this time?
"A Super Saiyan bloodline would be great… Maybe the Rinnegan with nine tomoe? No? A six-infinity-stone gauntlet at least? I'm not picky."
Meanwhile, Hiyori, still shaken, didn't retort as usual.
Instead, she muttered, "I… I can't do anything else…"
Her words startled Shinji and the others.
What did she mean, "I can't do anything else"?
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